Friday, December 18, 2020

 

Here we are again. Helen got me around the garden. An old friend rang up to see if I was still alive, although he didn’t phrase it quite like that, and therefore worth sending a Christmas card to. It was nice to talk to him. He used to live in our garage, long ago. And the yarn came from Uradale Farm:

 

The print-out of the Gudrun’s Hansel hap isn’t in the pattern file where it should be, so I printed it out again. The first problem is that the ball-band says 3.5 mm needles, and Gudrun wants 5mm. But mercifully the centre square, where we start, is knit corner to corner so I will be able to make my own guess (4mm) and see whether I like the fabric.

 

While I was in photography mode, I snapped the Evendoon:





(And that one got through although the others didn't. I think this time the problem is connected with "iCloud storage - see below. )

 

I am full of startitis-type enthusiasm for the hap, so will do that this evening. And probably press on with it.

 

Life

 

You have got me worried about shingles. I know it’s thoroughly unpleasant. Am I right in thinking that you don’t seed to be exposed to chicken pox again, to get it? It can rise spontaneously from one’s bloodstream? I will ask a Medical Person about vaccination if I ever see one again.

 

The old friend (see above), who lives in London, says that he and everyone he knows has had an email from the NHS saying don’t-call-us-we’ll-call-you, about Covid vaccination. And of course some oldies are already getting it, down there. I wish we had some sort of notification like that here.

 

I’m having trouble getting email on my iPad. I think it’s something to do with a message I keep getting and ignoring about how I’m running out of “storage”. I tried to put it right and got through to Apple and changed my password but then they wanted the security number on my Visa card and they didn’t have the right Visa card and I couldn’t figure out how to change it. That probably dates from the time I had that bank scam and Alexander thot it would be prudent to change my card. Archie will have to deal with all this next week, and meanwhile I’ll have to use this computer for email.

 

The US east coast snow sounds serious. It will be interesting to see if it does come here. My Oberlin friend who writes a private blog is completely snowed in (Binghampton NY). Usually she just sits and waits for young people to knock on her door and offer to dig her out, for a price, This time there is too much snow for them to get to the door.

 

I haven’t done any Italian homework for tomorrow, and I am inclined to feel, to hell with it. Christmas and the winter solstice are almost as bad when one does nothing as when one toils for six weeks.

 

Reading

 

I am finding “The Honourable Schoolboy” grimmer and more violent than I expected. Laos, Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge. It’s too late to stop now. Maybe “Alice in Wonderland” next.

13 comments:

  1. I like your color combinations! Great job! You seem to have a knack for putting together colors. Have a very Merry Christmas! Stay safe!

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  2. Jean, the sweater is lovely! Re. books, I just treated myself to Tana French's newest. I didn't even know it was out, but it showed up in my Amazon 'you might like this' along with a $5 coupon. Merry Christmas to me!

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  3. I love the sweater and the colours!!

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  4. I love the sweater and the colours!!

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  5. Marilyn Nance11:26 PM

    One has to actually have had chicken pox to get shingles. It's just inside, waiting. No need to be exposed again to the pox.

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  6. Your sweater is beautiful, great job arranging the colors.
    I’ve tried for years to get the Shingles shot, first my doctor kept wanting me to make sure it was covered by my insurance, it’s an expensive vaccine; then it wasn’t available. Lastly, my sister-in-law had a horrendous reaction to it. I gave up.
    I doubt your email issues are due to problems with iCloud storage. At the top of the list in settings you should see your name(or whatever the iPad is named), under that is Apple ID, iCloud, email. Click on that, you’ll see a new screen will appear, again at the top will be a group of settings, you should see email, click on that to see if what’s there is correct. Hope this helps and isn’t too confusing.
    Be well

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:08 AM

      Jean, please don't worry too much about shingles. But since the shot is available try to get it. In the US, almost any pharmacy can administer it for you. Don't know how it works in Scotland. Two shots are required two to six months apart. I walked for the second one after three months. They keep track. We have Medicare and a good Blue Cross plan. It cost us $5 per shot. The colors of your Evandoon are so cheerful for the dark of December. I love it. Chloe

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  7. Anonymous11:13 AM

    No appointment was needed. I walked in kind of randomly for both shots. Just make sure it's between 2 to 6 months. There was a questionnaire to fill out to screen for any issues that would prevent you from getting the vaccine. Very sore arm for about a day was my only side effect. Chloe again.

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  8. Anonymous11:24 AM

    Gosh, one more thing (my original fully explained post got lost so this is coming in bits and pieces). This is the second version of this shingles vaccine. The first was not nearly as effective. Anyone who had the first Still should get the second. The drug store/pharmacy/chemist keeps track of your shots but does not call you to remind you of the second dose. That is up to you. Hope I've remembered everything now.:). Chloe

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  9. The sweater looks wonderful. I wish KD’s blog was still “chatty” the way it used to be. Oh well, she writes wonderful articles and has a business to run. I had shingles last year - I was very lucky and had a very mild case. Now what I want to know (and will ask my Dr when I see her again) is if I should still get the vaccine.

    Anna usually in Toronto

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  10. =Tamar2:26 PM

    I am told that the virus hides in your nervous system and comes out when you are under stress.

    Thank you, Chloe! I would like to know whether the vaccination against chicken pox is sufficient, since I never had the disease, or whether I should try to get the shingles vaccination.

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    Replies
    1. If you never had chickenpox, it's my understanding you will never have shingles.

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  11. If you've not had chickenpox, you don't need the shingles vaccine. However, all adults who have never had chickenpox or the vaccine against it should hopefully go ahead and have that so they're protected against it and then never need worry about shingles anyway. Chickenpox can cause serious problems for adults who contract it.
    However, since you need to take this in 2 doses, 4 weeks apart, and probably aren't going to come into contact with anyone with it in the near future, I'd recommend just asking the doctor about it after all the COVID fuss is over. It would be a sad irony to catch COVID while attempting to take a chickenpox vaccine. :-)

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